Commotion leaves Kings reeling even more

[chelle]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14113208p-14942678c.html

PHILADELPHIA - Shareef Abdur-Rahim couldn't have been more right.
"That's not going to be the headline tomorrow," the Kings forward said.

He was referring to the hot-shooting night of point guard Mike Bibby, who put up a career-high 44 points against Philadelphia in the Kings' 109-103 loss Tuesday night.

Headlines aren't big enough to describe the whirlwind that engulfed the Kings and turned their game into an afterthought before it began. Hours before tipoff, Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie had come close to trading small forward Peja Stojakovic for Indiana forward Ron Artest. The deal looked done before Artest balked at coming to Sacramento and Petrie followed by nixing the transaction.
The collateral damage on the Kings and their already-teetering state was profound. They fell behind 24-12 in the first quarter and never caught up.
"It's not the best thing that could happen on a six-game road trip when you're struggling right now," coach Rick Adelman said. "Of course, I (feel for Stojakovic). This has not been an easy situation. If this would've happened, it would've been our fourth trade in less than a year with four very important people.
"I've been with Peja since Day One. We came together. He's done a hell of a lot for this franchise, and for me. I feel for him."
Adelman saw team co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof discussing the deal on ESPNews while watching television during the day. At first declining to discuss the deal, they went on to talk as if Artest was already a King. "Well, what they do, I have no control over," Adelman said. "I did see that, and I don't think that was a wise thing to do."

 

[chelle]

Adleman's comment along with Peja's is why I am having trouble with the Maloofs. It is like that have no control over their mouths any longer. It almost seems to me that they are the only ones that really wanted this trade done. I guess it is their money. Stinks for the rest. AGAIN, trades are going to happen, but there is right and wrong way to do it. they are showing the wrong way.

 

[Peja]

Adleman's comment along with Peja's is why I am having trouble with the Maloofs. It is like that have no control over their mouths any longer. It almost seems to me that they are the only ones that really wanted this trade done. I guess it is their money. Stinks for the rest. AGAIN, trades are going to happen, but there is right and wrong way to do it. they are showing the wrong way.

I agree!I also think it's obvious that Peja,Geoff and Rick didn't want to make this deal...
It will be very interesting now...

 

[thesanityannex]

It almost seems to me that they are the only ones that really wanted this trade done.

Find that hard to believe. Did you see how many people were excited when the news broke here?

 

[Wuster]

Find that hard to believe. Did you see how many people were excited when the news broke here?

And should for some reason this trade get resurrected, you'll see another bandwagon effect by some if not many on this board. I personally have never wanted Artest here and won't be changing my mind on that one.

 

[thesanityannex]

I've always wanted him here and still do. I won't be hopping off the bring Artest to Sac wagon anytime soon.

 

[vj9999]

And should for some reason this trade get resurrected, you'll see another bandwagon effect by some if not many on this board. I personally have never wanted Artest here and won't be changing my mind on that one.

I never wanted him, but if he comes he'll have my full support as a Kings player. If he does well, I'll be the first one to post Any Questions? thread. If he screws up, I'll be relucant to defend him.

 

[chelle]

Find that hard to believe. Did you see how many people were excited when the news broke here?

I was referring to management, not fans.

I was never totally for him coming, but if we had gotten him, he would have been a player on MY TEAM and I would have cheered for him and wished him well. Now, i do not know if I could give him my full support right away.

 

[BigWaxer]

I feel the same way Chelle.

 

[kennadog]

I didn't want Artest. I don't want Artest. I will always support any player ON my team as long as he does right by my team.

(And it has nothing to do with whether or not I think Pedja needs to be traded, BTW. That's a separate issue.)

 

[kingsgurl87]

I didn't want Artest. I don't want Artest. I will always support any player ON my team as long as he does right by my team.

(And it has nothing to do with whether or not I think Pedja needs to be traded, BTW. That's a separate issue.)

I'm with you...couldn't have said it better myself

 

[Wuster]

I didn't want Artest. I don't want Artest. I will always support any player ON my team as long as he does right by my team.

(And it has nothing to do with whether or not I think Pedja needs to be traded, BTW. That's a separate issue.)

Word.

 

[Sac.Kings]

Personally, i would not be surprised if Peja does not play the same as he has been (is it possible for him to play worse), but the effort and his love for the kings organization has diminished to say the least. If only the Maloofs could realize that perhaps it would be better if they told their players first and not everyone else who was watching ESPN, things might have turned out differently. Artest, in my opinion, is a stuck up *****who cant get over the fact that he cant decide where he is going to get traded. I would be extrmely disappointed if he came to Sac.

 

[kingsfan52miller]

Personally, i would not be surprised if Peja does not play the same as he has been (is it possible for him to play worse), but the effort and his love for the kings organization has diminished to say the least. If only the Maloofs could realize that perhaps it would be better if they told their players first and not everyone else who was watching ESPN, things might have turned out differently. Artest, in my opinion, is a stuck up *****who cant get over the fact that he cant decide where he is going to get traded. I would be extrmely disappointed if he came to Sac.

and I wouldnt blame him, this situation is crazy..and needs to be over Immediatly

 

[Sac.Kings]

peja does need to realize that the NBA is in fact a business and that Sacramento is ALWAYS looking at the things that are the best for the team and the fans(perhaps not this time for the fans considering we would have gotten the terminator of fans on our team)U cant deny that Artest has talent, now only if he had the will to control his big *** mouth and fists...

 

[Sparky]

"Well, what they (Maloofs) do, I have no control over," Adelman said. "I did see that, and I don't think that was a wise thing to do."

Dang, this whole organization is rotting from the inside out! I think Adelman has had enough of their badly orchestrated maneuvers. In any case, he should not have made that comment publicly. Also, there is no way the Maloofs are going to put up with that kind of comment, either. He is gone at the end of the season, maybe before. That will please some, but just like the Webber trade, you don't know what you've got until you lose it.

What a mess.

 

[kennadog]

Dang, this whole organization is rotting from the inside out! I think Adelman has had enough of their badly orchestrated maneuvers. In any case, he should not have made that comment publicly. Also, there is no way the Maloofs are going to put up with that kind of comment, either. He is gone at the end of the season, maybe before. That will please some, but just like the Webber trade, you don't know what you've got until you lose it.

What a mess.

I'm sure Adleman has intended to walk at the end of this year since last summer. He has spoken much more freely since then. Unfortunately, like so many others, some may only appreciate him when he's gone.

 

[Old #11]

Why didn't the Maloofs just blow up the organization and start over to rebuild. The fallout would have been much more bearable than this. I haven't seen anyone mention the current players, but this has to have a major effect on them.

Unless a player has the attitude of Artest and some others I can think of in the NBA, it has to be extremely difficult to be "professional" and go on as if nothing has happened. If you will notice, other than Bibby who may have been energized with his dad sitting on the Philly bench, the veterans did not play well last night. The youngsters did a much better job dealing with it so it seems. They don't have as much invested in the team and are still trying to make a statement for themselves.

Damn this whole thing!!

 

[kingsfan52miller]

Damn this whole thing!!

i second that

 

[Old #11]

ALSO, for those who keep insisting that Artest still has great trade value because there were so many offers for him, seem to be overlooking the fact that none of those other trades were made. Have we heard of any really "valuable" players being offered up in those trades!

 

[AriesMar27]

i wanted artest here since the offseason, but now..... im not to sure. but damn.... he really ****ed up this situation..... the pacers should send his *** to the hawks for the josh's(childress and smith) or joe johnson. that'll show him....

 

[Bricklayer]

ALSO, for those who keep insisting that Artest still has great trade value because there were so many offers for him, seem to be overlooking the fact that none of those other trades were made. Have we heard of any really "valuable" players being offered up in those trades!

Yes we have -- Maggette. That was the Pacers call apparently.

No idea what Ron would be worht after another blowup, but somebody would likely at the every least take him off our hands.

 

[Warhawk]

Yes we have -- Maggette. That was the Pacers call apparently.

No idea what Ron would be worht after another blowup, but somebody would likely at the every least take him off our hands.

Damn, I hope you're right, because we may need to deal him PDQ if he starts acting up again....

 

[LA King Fan II]

I think just about anyone evaluating NBA talent on the court would give these guys the following grade for overall court talent.

Ron Artest - A
Peja Stojakovic - B

Is it really that big a gamble? The NBA isn't exactly loaded with Pat Boone types. It's cool to be a fooll. Street Cred'. Ron Artest is hardly the only knucklehead in the league with baggage.

 

[Bricklayer]

Ron Artest is hardly the only knucklehead in the league with baggage.

Yes, but while I'm willing to give this a chance, there's baggage, and then there's I've been suspended for 100 of my last 125 games baggage.

 

[LA King Fan II]

Fair enough. These are desperate times though, and as good as Bibby is the brand of basketball they're playing now sucks.

 

[KP]

Ron Artest is hardly the only knucklehead in the league with baggage.

I don't completely disagree with you, but to be honest he is by far the biggest knucklehead with the most baggage, by far... like, he has the ability to get himself suspended for a whole season.

 

[LA King Fan II]

think about the ability to put somebody on Ginobli. On Allen. On Anthony. On Kobe. On Dasher. On Donner. On Vixen.

 

[thesanityannex]

I don't completely disagree with you, but to be honest he is by far the biggest knucklehead with the most baggage, by far... like, he has the ability to get himself suspended for a whole season.

Yes, but he is still better than Peja, and holds more trade value than Peja. Take him and trade him as he wishes.

 

[Warhawk]

think about the ability to put somebody on Ginobli. On Allen. On Anthony. On Kobe. On Dasher. On Donner. On Vixen.

On the bench is most likely....